Cape Canaveral, Fla. – August 13, 2025 – History soared into the night sky as United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) powerful Vulcan rocket blasted off on its first-ever National Security Space Mission (USSF-106) for the U.S. Space Force. The thunderous liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 8:56 p.m. EDT on August 12 marked a bold leap forward in America’s space dominance.

"National security starts the moment we leave the pad," declared Gary Wentz, ULA’s VP of Government and Commercial Programs. "Vulcan proved its might—delivering this mission with unmatched power, precision, and reliability. This is how we defend the future."

Towering at 202 feet and weighing a staggering 1.74 million pounds, Vulcan’s secret weapon is its next-gen Centaur V upper stage—boasting 2.5 times the power and 450 times the endurance of earlier rockets. With flawless precision, it propelled the USSF-106 spacecraft directly into Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO), a critical zone for military operations.

"Vulcan is a game-changer," said Tory Bruno, ULA’s President and CEO. "It’s the most capable high-energy rocket on Earth, giving the U.S. the edge in space warfare. Our adversaries are watching—this launch signals America’s unstoppable presence in orbit."

For nearly 20 years, ULA has been the backbone of U.S. national security launches, successfully sending 132 vital missions to space. Now, the torch passes from Atlas V, Delta II, and Delta IV to Vulcan—ushering in a new age of speed, power, and adaptability.

What’s next? ULA’s upcoming launch will deploy Amazon’s Project Kuiper satellites, continuing its expansion into commercial space missions.

From defending the nation to pioneering new frontiers, ULA’s rockets push boundaries like no other. With cutting-edge tech on the horizon, one thing is clear: The sky is no longer the limit—it’s just the beginning.